GUWAHATI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday, May 12, announced the cancellation of the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3 and said the medical entrance test will be re-conducted on fresh dates to be announced later.
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In an official statement issued in continuation of its May 10 press release, the NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India after inputs examined in coordination with central agencies and findings shared by law enforcement authorities indicated that “the present examination process could not be allowed to stand.”
The agency stated that the matter had already been referred to central agencies on May 8 for independent verification and necessary action following allegations of irregularities and question paper leaks linked to the examination.
“The decision has been taken in the interest of students and in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests,” the NTA said, while acknowledging that conducting the exam again would cause inconvenience to candidates and their families.
The Government of India has also decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations. The NTA said it would extend full cooperation to the investigating agency and provide all necessary records and materials.
According to the statement, the re-conducted examination dates and revised admit card schedule will be notified separately through the agency’s official channels in the coming days.
The NTA further clarified that registration data, candidature details and examination centres chosen during the May 2026 cycle will remain valid for the re-examination. Candidates will not have to register again, and no additional examination fee will be charged.
Additionally, the fees already paid by students will be refunded, while the re-examination will be conducted using NTA’s internal resources.
The agency urged candidates and parents to rely only on official communications and avoid unverified information circulating on social media platforms.